Abstract:

A refueling system is provided that has a door configured to be movable by
the nozzle from a closed position that covers the fill opening to an open
position that exposes the fill opening. The door has a first portion and
a second portion connected with the first portion. The second portion
bends with respect to the first portion when the first and the second
portions are moved. Bending of the door may help to minimize the
packaging space requirements for the system. For example, the door may
bend along the length of the fill neck so that it has a smaller lateral
dimension in the open position than in the closed position.

Claims:

1. A refueling system having a fill neck defining a fill opening
configured to receive a fuel-dispensing nozzle comprising:a door
configured to be movable by the nozzle from a closed position that covers
the fill opening to an open position that exposes the fill opening;
wherein the door has a first portion and a second portion connected with
the first portion; and wherein the second portion bends with respect to
the first portion when the first and the second portions are moved.

2. The refueling system of claim 1, wherein the fill neck defines a
longitudinal axis; and wherein the first portion is linearly movable with
respect to the longitudinal axis and the second portion is movable in an
arcuate manner with respect to the longitudinal axis.

3. The refueling system of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a
substantially rigid material and the second portion is a flexible
material.

4. The refueling system of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a
thermoplastic material.

5. The refueling system of claim 1, wherein the second portion is
corrugated.

6. The refueling system of claim 1, further comprising:a resilient member
operatively connected to the door and configured to bias the door toward
the closed position.

7. The refueling system of claim 6, further comprising:a housing connected
to the fill neck and supporting the door; wherein the resilient member is
a spring having two end portions connected to the door and a midportion
restrained by the housing.

7. The refueling system of claim 1, further comprising:a cover supported
by the fill neck and configured to guide the door between the open and
the closed positions and configured to interfere with the second portion
to cause the second portion to bend in a direction along the fill neck.

8. The refueling system of claim 7, wherein the fill neck and the cover
define a cavity extending along a length of the fill neck; and wherein
the second portion is at least partially in the cavity in the open
position.

9. The refueling system of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a
shoulder against which the nozzle rests when the nozzle moves the door
from the closed position to the open position.

10. A refueling system having a fill neck defining a fill opening
configured to receive a fuel-dispensing nozzle for dispensing fuel into a
fuel tank comprising:a door configured to be movable by the nozzle from a
closed position that covers the fill opening to an open position that
exposes the fill opening; wherein the door has a substantially rigid
first portion and a flexible second portion connected with the first
portion;a housing connected to the fill neck and supporting the door;
anda cover connected to the housing; wherein the housing and the cover
are configured to guide the door as it is moved by the nozzle; and
wherein the cover is configured to interfere with the second portion so
that the second portion bends with respect to the first portion when the
first and the second portions are moved, the door having a dimension that
is smaller when the door is in the open position than when the door is in
the closed position due to the bending of the second portion.

11. The refueling system of claim 10, wherein the door is a closure of the
fill opening most distal from the fuel tank such that the refueling
system is capless.

12. The refueling system of claim 10, further comprising:a resilient
member operatively connected to the door and the housing and configured
to bias the door to the closed position.

13. A refueling system having a fill neck defining a fill opening
configured to receive a fuel-dispensing nozzle comprising:a housing
connected to the fill neck and having a housing opening at least
partially aligned with the fill opening;a cover connected to the housing
and having a cover opening at least partially aligned with the fill
opening and the housing opening;a door supported between the cover and
the housing and movable by the nozzle from a closed position that covers
the fill opening to an open position that exposes the fill opening and
permits the nozzle to extend through the cover opening and the housing
opening; and wherein the cover interferes with the door to cause the door
to bend when the door is moved to the open position.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 61/180,246 filed on May 21, 2009, which is hereby incorporated
by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002]The invention relates to a refueling system; and specifically to a
door for a fill neck.

BACKGROUND

[0003]Some refueling systems for vehicles are capless, so that a user need
not touch any part of the system while refueling. Capless refueling
systems may have a protective door to prevent contaminants from entering
the fuel system fill neck. The door may be moved from a closed position
to an open position by the fuel nozzle itself.

SUMMARY

[0004]A refueling system is provided that has a door configured to be
movable by the nozzle from a closed position that covers the fill opening
to an open position that exposes the fill opening. The door has a first
portion and a second portion connected with the first portion. The second
portion bends with respect to the first portion when the first and the
second portions are moved. Bending of the door may help minimize the
packaging space requirements for the system. For example, the door may
bend along the length of the fill neck so that it has a smaller lateral
dimension in the open position than in the closed position.

[0005]In one embodiment, a housing connected to the fill neck has a
housing opening at least partially aligned with the fill opening. A cover
is connected to the housing and has a cover opening at least partially
aligned with the fill opening and the housing opening. A door is
supported between the cover and the housing and is movable by the nozzle
from a closed position that covers the fill opening to an open position
that exposes the fill opening. The cover interferes with the door to
cause the door to bend when the door is moved to the open position.

[0006]The above features and advantages and other features and advantages
of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary cross-sectional
view of a refueling system with a door in a closed position, taken at
lines 1-1 in FIG. 4;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary cross-sectional
view of the refueling system of FIG. 1 with the door in an open position
and bent, taken at lines 2-2 in FIG. 4;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration in perspective view of a housing
of the refueling system of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0010]FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration in exploded view of the refueling
system of FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011]Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to
like components throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a capless
refueling system 10 having a door 12, referred to herein as a dust door,
configured to prevent dust and debris from entering the fill neck 14 and
designed to increase the compactness of the refueling system 10 as
described below. The refueling system 10 has a fill neck 14, sometimes
referred to as a fill pipe or fill tube, defining a fill opening 17
configured to receive a fuel-dispensing nozzle 16, shown in FIG. 2, to
allow the nozzle 16 to deliver fuel to a fuel tank 19 (shown
schematically) through the fill neck.

[0012]The door 12 has a first portion 18 and a second portion 20 connected
to the first portion 18. The first portion 18 is a substantially rigid
component and may be a thermoplastic material. The second portion 20 is
bendable. This may be achieved by forming the second portion 20 from a
flexible material, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE),
polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or thermoplastic rubber
(TPR). Alternatively or in addition, the second portion 20 may be
configured to bend by being corrugated, or formed from a series of thin
interconnected members, similar to a roll-top desk. In some embodiments,
the first and second portions 18, 20 may be integrally-formed from the
same material. The advantages of the door 12 are discussed further below.

[0013]A housing 22 is supported by the fill neck 14 and has a housing
opening 24 that sufficiently aligns with the fill opening 17 to allow the
nozzle 16 to be inserted through both openings as shown in FIG. 2. A
stamping 26 supports both the housing 22 and a seal 28. A sealing door 30
pivots about pivot point A at hinge 32 from a closed position shown in
FIG. 1 to an open position shown in FIG. 2 when the nozzle 16 is
inserted. A pressure relief valve 34, a nozzle seal 36 and a nozzle seal
support 38 are fit within the fill neck 14. A nozzle guide 40 with ribs
42 helps to direct the nozzle 16 through the nozzle seal 36. Additional
ring seals 44, 46 help to prevent vapor leakage.

[0014]A resilient member 50 rests in a channel 52 formed in the housing
22. In this embodiment, the resilient member 50 is a coil spring. A
midportion 54 of the resilient member 50, shown in FIG. 4, is restrained
by the housing 22. Referring to FIG. 4, end portions 56, 58 are connected
to the first portion 18 of the door 12 through slots 60 (one shown) in
arms 61 of the first portion 18. Only one slot 60 and one arm 61 are
shown. Another slot 60 and arm 61 that are mirror images of those shown
are on the opposing side of the first portion 18. The resilient member 50
biases the door 12 to the closed position of FIG. 1. The arms 61 rest in
the channel 52.

[0015]A cover 63 defines a cover opening 62 that sufficiently aligns with
the fill opening 17 to allow the nozzle 16 to be inserted through the
cover opening 62, the housing opening 24 and the fill opening 17, as
shown in FIG. 2. A stop 64 of the cover 63 interferes with the first
portion 18 to limit movement of the door 12 in a direction toward the
midportion 54 of the resilient member 50, thereby defining the closed
position. The door 12 is supported between and guided by the housing 22
and the cover 63.

[0016]The cover 63 has an extension 66 that extends laterally outward of
the fill neck 14 and partially along the fill neck 14 to define a cavity
68 between the extension 66 and the fill neck 14. The first portion 18
has shoulders 70. The nozzle 16 rests against the shoulders 70 as the tip
of the nozzle 16 is used to begin pushing the door 12 laterally (i.e.
across) the housing 22 and housing opening 24 during insertion of the
nozzle 16 into the fill neck 14. The door 12 is initially moved linearly
in a lateral direction with respect to a longitudinal axis C of the fill
neck 14 by the force of the nozzle 16 against the shoulders 70. An inner
surface 71 of the extension 66 interferes with further lateral movement
of the second portion 20 of the door 12 when an end 72 of the second
portion 20 contacts the inner surface 71. Because the second portion 20
is flexible, the force of the nozzle 16 combined with the interference of
the extension 66 causes the second portion 20 to bend in an arcuate
manner defined by the shape of the extension 66 at the inner surface 71
to extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis C within the cavity
68. The bending of the second portion 20 allows further lateral movement
of the door 12, and allows the nozzle 16 to reach the fully inserted
position shown in FIG. 2. The extension 66 guides the door 12.

[0017]The lateral dimension of the door 12 in the open position of FIG. 2
is indicated by L. The lateral dimension L of the door 12 is the total
length of the door 12 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis C. The lateral dimension L is much shorter than the lateral
dimension LL of the door 12 in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. The
extension 66 makes an approximately ninety-degree turn between a
longitudinal portion 74 and a side portion 76 of the extension 66,
defining the arcuate manner in which the second portion 20 is caused to
bend. If the door 12 did not bend, the lateral length of the door 12 in
the open position would be much greater, and more lateral packaging space
would therefore be required for the refueling system 10.

[0018]While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been
described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention
relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for
practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.